(Tshepang Mohlomi as Ntwe in “Otelo Burning”)The Durban Film Office has applauded local actor Tshepang Mohlomi who recently received his second Best Child Actor Award at the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for his role in Durban film Otelo Burning.
Muhlomi, an 18-year old high school learner from Ntuzuma is cast as Ntwe in the feature film which is set to debut countrywide in cinemas on May 11, 2012.
Durban Film Office Head Toni Monty has welcomed the win as well as the forthcoming screening of the film which Monty believes is created by a “deluge of home-grown talent”. Said Monty; “Otelo Burning is a proudly-Durban film that will undoubtedly make lasting impressions to an international audience. It is reminiscent of the fact that Durban is gifted with talented local actors and filmmaking professionals.”
Otelo Burning tells the tale a group of township boys who discover the joys of surfing. The story is set in 1989, against a backdrop of brewing conflict between two groups in Lamontville, KwaZulu-Natal. For the boys, who previously had a deep-seated fear of the sea, "flying on water" comes to represent freedom and escapism during a time of conflict. Filmed on Durban’s popular beaches, the film features real-life Durban lifeguard and surfer Sihle Xaba who first introduced Director Sara Blecher to the true-life story. The film has both garnered international acclaim and a flux of awards for its true-life depiction of historical events, including the brutalities of apartheid and the inception of a democratic government on April 27, 1994.
Otelo Burning which made its world premiere at the Durban International Film Festival, which is run by the DFM, last year is set to screen at various international film festivals in the forthcoming months including Cinemonde Film Festival in France, the Tiburon International Film Festival in California and the Seattle International Film festival.
Despite having no acting training, Muhlomi is no stranger to the film industry and already boasts an armful of enviable awards. Mohlomi was cast in his first role as Chilli-bite in award-winning Durban film Izulu Lami: My Secret Sky at the tender age of 13 which rocketed the teenager into international fame for his portrayal of a street-child.
Mentor Madoda Ncayiyana, co-producer and writer of iZulu Lami, discovered Mohlomi in a local informal settlement during casting of the feature film. Said Ncayiyana; “I knew that I had discovered a rough diamond who would really brighten up the future of South Africa’s film industry. Even though he is still a teenager, Tshepang has matured into a powerful professional actor who never stops until he gets his character right; he is always busy trying to improve his abilities.”
The role landed him his first AMAA Best Child Actor Award last year as well as a South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) for Best Supporting Actor, through which he competed against adult actors. Since then Mohlomi has starred in other locally produced films including Florida Road, At Ellens Age and most recently Otelo Burning.
Madoda Ncayiyana is particularly excited for Mohlomi’s next acting appearance- the lead role in the film company’s upcoming local film Muti dot Mobi in which the young actor also sings.
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